On the cusp of cycling's greatest revolution
Re: On the cusp of cycling's greatest revolution
It's a classic case of digital (Battery assist) vs analogue (legs). Think vinyl vs MP3, or 4K helmet mounted cameras vs Kodak Instamatic, or Google Maps vs a piece of paper, Betamax vs DVD!
There will always be enthusiasts who like things done the old way, but the first time I saw a battery assist bike, a little light came on in my head: that's what everyone will be riding. I just didn't think it would happen so quickly.
There will always be enthusiasts who like things done the old way, but the first time I saw a battery assist bike, a little light came on in my head: that's what everyone will be riding. I just didn't think it would happen so quickly.
Re: On the cusp of cycling's greatest revolution
I stand correctedmillimole wrote: ↑29 Nov 2022, 2:31pmThis may well have been the old definition of a moped, but the current one is as follows :reohn2 wrote: Mopeds only need pedal assist to begin moving upto perhaps 5mph,after which the motor takes over and independently powers the vehicle,though pedal assist may be needed on the steepest of hills,such machines need driving licence,reg plate,MOT,third party insurance and helmet.
"A moped (category AM) is defined as having a maximum design speed over 25km/h (15.5mph) but not exceeding 45 km/h (28 mph); or a light quadricycle with an unladen weight not more than 350kg and up to 45km/h."
The current licence class required is (I believe) P as a minimum.
I have a (legal) e-moped an NIU UQI - and frankly, a maximum speed of 28mph is far too slow for modern roads (even 30mph roads) - it's probably going in the spring!
-----------------------------------------------------------
"All we are not stares back at what we are"
W H Auden
"All we are not stares back at what we are"
W H Auden
Re: On the cusp of cycling's greatest revolution
I don't think Ebikes(pedelecs)fall into that catagory for the reasons Cugel gives.jimlews wrote: ↑29 Nov 2022, 4:12pm I'm aware of the common ancestry - pedal cycle // motor cycle // e bike etc.
It's all part of a misguided notion that everything has to be made easier.
So fast (easier) "food" has led to an epidemic of obesity, ably assisted by car culture
and now e bikes (which discourage active travel).
There are far far worse things humanity is proud of producing.The only difference that I can see between the "stink wheel" devices of former times
and todays electric bicycles is that the pollution they cause has been deferred to the
end of the battery life. And then there is the slave labour mining the rare elements required
to produce them...
-----------------------------------------------------------
"All we are not stares back at what we are"
W H Auden
"All we are not stares back at what we are"
W H Auden
Re: On the cusp of cycling's greatest revolution
Them mobile phones are not so much enablers as panopticons striving every minute to gain control of your behaviours & beliefs .... and often succeeding! I can only recommend a disinterested auditor, who will examine you for these parasitic virtual mind-suckers then hopefully give you a purge, along with a lump hammer with which to crush the evil device, preferably in a cleansing ritual fashion in front of those who love you and will be glad o have you back without all them conspiracy theories and lusts for pointless gewgaws* swirling about in yer bonce.
Cugel wearing a virtual tinhat made of no-phone.
* This category of gaw does not include e-bikes.
“Practical men who believe themselves to be quite exempt from any intellectual influence are usually the slaves of some defunct economist”.
John Maynard Keynes
John Maynard Keynes
Re: On the cusp of cycling's greatest revolution
The little light that came on in my head was -- " what can I use this thing for ? -- this is bound to have a valid use in whats left of my life "
So when I got a sail on one -- "ah travel to work with no sweating or changing of clothes or paying lots for fuel and enjoying the ride on my magic carpet into the bargain "
Not so much a little light as a floodlight!
I am here. Where are you?
Re: On the cusp of cycling's greatest revolution
jimlews wrote: ↑29 Nov 2022, 4:12pm The only difference that I can see between the "stink wheel" devices of former times
and todays electric bicycles is that the pollution they cause has been deferred to the
end of the battery life. And then there is the slave labour mining the rare elements required
to produce them...
What of all those use once then discard or rechargable AA,AAA batteries in use in almost every household in the land,if not the world at the end of their usable life,used in various battery powered consumables such as TV remotes,flashlights and bike lights,radios ,etc,etc.
-----------------------------------------------------------
"All we are not stares back at what we are"
W H Auden
"All we are not stares back at what we are"
W H Auden
Re: On the cusp of cycling's greatest revolution
What of them?reohn2 wrote: ↑1 Dec 2022, 8:21amjimlews wrote: ↑29 Nov 2022, 4:12pm The only difference that I can see between the "stink wheel" devices of former times
and todays electric bicycles is that the pollution they cause has been deferred to the
end of the battery life. And then there is the slave labour mining the rare elements required
to produce them...
What of all those use once then discard or rechargable AA,AAA batteries in use in almost every household in the land,if not the world at the end of their usable life,used in various battery powered consumables such as TV remotes,flashlights and bike lights,radios ,etc,etc.
(Surely you're not saying that because your [family member] threw away some radio batteries last week, you now do not care about the pollution caused by any batteries? )
Re: On the cusp of cycling's greatest revolution
AFAIK, conventional batteries are successfully recycled nowadays and the metals recovered, reused. That doesn't mean to say however that everyone properly disposes of their batteries - most presumably still go in the rubbish.reohn2 wrote: ↑1 Dec 2022, 8:21am
What of all those use once then discard or rechargable AA,AAA batteries in use in almost every household in the land,if not the world at the end of their usable life,used in various battery powered consumables such as TV remotes,flashlights and bike lights,radios ,etc,etc.
AIUI, recycling is much more problematic for lithium-ion batteries (mainly due to handling issues). That doesn't mean it cannot be done. I would like to hear from any forum member whose bike battery has come to the end of its life, how they disposed of it and any problems they faced, though it is of course early days yet.
When the pestilence strikes from the East, go far and breathe the cold air deeply. Ignore the sage, stay not indoors. Ho Ri Zon 12th Century Chinese philosopher
Re: On the cusp of cycling's greatest revolution
There's a case of batteries (many sizes and voltages) in our hoose. All of them except those coin batteries are rechargeables of good quality (mosty eneloop). I've had many of them for at least 15 years and they still power the various devices in which they're employed.mattheus wrote: ↑1 Dec 2022, 9:03amWhat of them?reohn2 wrote: ↑1 Dec 2022, 8:21amjimlews wrote: ↑29 Nov 2022, 4:12pm The only difference that I can see between the "stink wheel" devices of former times
and todays electric bicycles is that the pollution they cause has been deferred to the
end of the battery life. And then there is the slave labour mining the rare elements required
to produce them...
What of all those use once then discard or rechargable AA,AAA batteries in use in almost every household in the land,if not the world at the end of their usable life,used in various battery powered consumables such as TV remotes,flashlights and bike lights,radios ,etc,etc.
(Surely you're not saying that because your [family member] threw away some radio batteries last week, you now do not care about the pollution caused by any batteries? )
It's a rare event to throw a battery away. When I do, there's a local recycling facility that at least prevents the toxic stuff from percolating into the water table from a landfill site. Perhaps it also extracts something reusable? (I confess that I don't know).
When energy become as cheap as chips because we humans have a change of mind (ha!) and start having an economy based on renewables and recycling, the decomposition of things like batteries into useful feedstocks for other artefacts (also 100% recyclable) will be possible. It's possible now but the processes to do so cost an arm & a leg in energy.
Cugel
“Practical men who believe themselves to be quite exempt from any intellectual influence are usually the slaves of some defunct economist”.
John Maynard Keynes
John Maynard Keynes
Re: On the cusp of cycling's greatest revolution
Go figure,it's not that hard.mattheus wrote: ↑1 Dec 2022, 9:03amWhat of them?reohn2 wrote: ↑1 Dec 2022, 8:21amjimlews wrote: ↑29 Nov 2022, 4:12pm The only difference that I can see between the "stink wheel" devices of former times
and todays electric bicycles is that the pollution they cause has been deferred to the
end of the battery life. And then there is the slave labour mining the rare elements required
to produce them...
What of all those use once then discard or rechargable AA,AAA batteries in use in almost every household in the land,if not the world at the end of their usable life,used in various battery powered consumables such as TV remotes,flashlights and bike lights,radios ,etc,etc.
Did I say a family member or myself did?(Surely you're not saying that because your [family member] threw away some radio batteries last week, you now do not care about the pollution caused by any batteries? )
-----------------------------------------------------------
"All we are not stares back at what we are"
W H Auden
"All we are not stares back at what we are"
W H Auden
Re: On the cusp of cycling's greatest revolution
Are you sure that all spent batteries disposed of properly are recycled?horizon wrote: ↑1 Dec 2022, 11:20amAFAIK, conventional batteries are successfully recycled nowadays and the metals recovered, reused. That doesn't mean to say however that everyone properly disposes of their batteries - most presumably still go in the rubbish.reohn2 wrote: ↑1 Dec 2022, 8:21am
What of all those use once then discard or rechargable AA,AAA batteries in use in almost every household in the land,if not the world at the end of their usable life,used in various battery powered consumables such as TV remotes,flashlights and bike lights,radios ,etc,etc.
On your second point I feel I have to agree.
TBH I don't know whether they are any harder or not to recycle than use once AA/AAA,etc type batteries.AIUI, recycling is much more problematic for lithium-ion batteries (mainly due to handling issues). That doesn't mean it cannot be done.....
What I do know is there's a lot of waste in modern society and we're all more or less guilty of it to some degree.
-----------------------------------------------------------
"All we are not stares back at what we are"
W H Auden
"All we are not stares back at what we are"
W H Auden
-
- Posts: 839
- Joined: 1 Sep 2019, 3:07pm
Re: On the cusp of cycling's greatest revolution
On BBC yesterday they mentioned a new design of pedal wheelchair. I did a google but could not find.
*************************************
I ride Brompton and a 100% British Vintage
*************************************
I ride Brompton and a 100% British Vintage
Re: On the cusp of cycling's greatest revolution
So,that's factual.
-----------------------------------------------------------
"All we are not stares back at what we are"
W H Auden
"All we are not stares back at what we are"
W H Auden
Re: On the cusp of cycling's greatest revolution
Perhaps if you were to type recumbent into google you may get a resultbriansnail wrote: ↑1 Dec 2022, 3:39pm On BBC yesterday they mentioned a new design of pedal wheelchair. I did a google but could not find.
*************************************
I ride Brompton and a 100% British Vintage
Dons tin hat and takes cover......
-----------------------------------------------------------
"All we are not stares back at what we are"
W H Auden
"All we are not stares back at what we are"
W H Auden